Betty Goodings

Betty Goodings (nee Shepard) (circa 1925 - 2 May 1993) a British-Canadian who was an important leading ballet teacher and dance promoter in Thunder Bay, Ontario, during the 1960s.

Early life

Betty Shepard was born in the UK to Norman and Constance Shepard.

Betty later married a Mr. Goodings and had children, at least one boy and one girl. [7]

Betty immigrated to Canada, following her sister Joan, a war bride, in coming to Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Dance Career

In Thunder Bay, Betty ran Betty Goodings Ballet School [1] Betty taught Deborah Delvecchio and Laura Pascolo-McRury.

In 1967 with Lakehead Amateur Music Productions, she brought Brigadoon to the stage with a cast of 125 people, thanks to four women: Jean Crittal of Lakehead Music Fesival, Dusty Miller of Cambrian Players, Betty Goodings of Lakehead Ballet Guild, and Barbara Kirkup of the Lakehead Choral Group. They later produced My Fair Lady and Guys and Dolls. [https://issuu.com/thewalleyemagazine/docs/walleye_october_2013/7

On 20 May 1971 her niece and student Elizabeth Gravelle won a scholarship for dance. "Elizabeth Gravelle ; granted special arts bursary from Canada Council ; for ballet training in Europe ; former student of Mrs. Betty Goodings ; has been studying at National Ballet School, Toronto for past seven years ; member of Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing; will be dancing in Swan Lake with the National Ballet Company ; photo" [4] As of 2020, Elizabeth Gravelle is a dance teacher at the San Francisco Academy of Ballet [2]

Betty moved to British Columbia in about 1975 [1] or 1980. Betty died 2 May 1993. [3]

She taught at the Odd Fellows Hall on Park and she did private lessons in Mary Sohlman’s house on Ray Blvd. Her husband’s job is why she moved to BC.

— Laura Pascolo-McRury, 2020 [3]

As a student of betty goodings , she was still in Thunder Bay until 1980 🙂

— Nadine Singleton, 2020 [4]

Sources

[1] Laura Pascolo-McRury, private telephone conversation, 13 March 2020.

[2] [5]

[3] GOODINGS, BETTY M. 05/02/1993 Chronicle-Journal 11/01/93 P. 21

[4] Fort William Times-Journal. 20 May 1971. [6]

[4] The Port Arthur News-Chronicle. Goodings, Betty PIC n/a 7 Mar 1966 p.5 N.W.O. Music Festival Index of social notices, news and photos as published in 1962 - 1972

[5] The Port Arthur News-Chronicle. Goodings, Betty (Mrs.) BIO n/a 23 May 1963 p.8 pic Ballet recital Index of social notices, news and photos as published in 1962 - 1972

[6] The Port Arthur News-Chronicle. Goodings, Betty (Mrs.) BIO n/a 25 May 1963 p.8 Review of recital Index of social notices, news and photos as published in 1962 - 1972

[7] Joan Gravelle obituary [7]